Associations Between Marker Gene Alleles and Doe Traits in Nubian (Zaraibi) Goats in Egypt

Abstract

Plasma proteins of Nubian goat does' blood were examined for biochemical
polymorphism of Immunoglobulin M (IgM), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Immunoglobulin
P (lgP), Albumin (A), I-Antitrypsin (AnLT), Carbonic Anhydrase Erythrocytes
(C.An.Er), Trypsinogen Pancreas (T.P) and Trypsin Inhibitor (Tr.I) by using
one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
(SDS-PAGE), with high molecular weight protein standards as reference bands.
Analysis of the results revealed the existence of association bet';,ieen reproductive
traits of homozygous Nubian doe genotypes and marker gene alleles. The lowest
values of age at first kidding was associated with the allele Cb of C.An.Er marker
gene, abortion in does with the allele pC of IgP and mortality rate with the allele
pb of IgP The results also showed that the highest values of each of litter size
and litter weight at birth and at weaning were associated with the allele Ia of
Tr.1 marker gene and those of kilograms of kids produced/life time of doe at
birth and at weaning (the latter parameter, i.e., kilograms of kids produced/life
time of doe at weaning shows the final output of the traits: prolificacy, milk yield
and pre-weaning mortality) with the allele Aa of A marker gene, Effects of the
mentioned marker genes on the studied traits were found to be, in general. significant
(P<O.OI or 0.05). Such positive results may suggest that marker-assisted selection
could be carried out at a very early age on marker genotypes for improvement
of Nubian goat traits, since such marker genotypes could be scored at very early
ages.